Planning ranges, not quotes. Figures use the Naperville-area planning range of about $30 to $38 per hour. Confirm current rates locally with each agency.
Round-the-clock hourly shifts
With 24-hour hourly care, caregivers work in shifts, often two 12-hour or three 8-hour shifts, so someone is always awake and alert. Every hour is billed.
At $30 to $38 per hour, 24 hours of coverage is about $720 to $912 per day, or roughly $21,840 to $27,660 per month. That makes it very expensive, and some agencies charge more for overnight or weekend hours.
Live-in care
With live-in care, one caregiver stays in the home for a set number of days, with their own sleeping space and required breaks and sleep time. It is usually priced as a daily rate rather than by the hour, which often makes it less expensive than 24-hour shifts. Daily rates and the rules around sleep and breaks vary by agency, so ask for them in writing.
Overnight-only care
Some families only need help at night, for example for bathroom trips or reassurance. An overnight shift is billed hourly, and agencies may offer awake or asleep overnight options.
When each arrangement usually fits
- 24-hour shifts: a parent who needs help frequently through the night or who could be unsafe if a caregiver sleeps.
- Live-in: a parent who needs someone present day and night but usually sleeps through most nights.
- Overnight only: a parent who is fine during the day, or has family help then, but is at risk at night.
Questions to ask an agency
- Do you offer live-in care, 24-hour shifts, or both? How is each priced?
- For live-in care, what sleep and break time does the caregiver need, and who covers breaks?
- Are overnight, weekend, or holiday hours billed at a different rate?
- How many different caregivers would rotate through the schedule?
- How do you cover a shift if a caregiver is sick?
For more questions, see the agency question checklist. If round-the-clock care at home is out of reach, compare home care and assisted living.